Windstream Communications is a provider of voice and data network communications (broadband, VoIP, MPLS), and managed services (virtual servers, managed firewall, data storage, cloud-based voice, etc.), to businesses in the United States.[3] The company also offers residential broadband, phone and digital TV services to consumers within its coverage area. It is the ninth largest residential telephone provider in the country [4] with service covering more than 8.1 million people in 21 states.[5] Headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Windstream has more than $6 billion in annual revenues and is listed on the S&P 500 index.

The company was formed in 2006, when Alltel's local telephone service merged with Valor Communications Group out of part of GTE (now part of Verizon)'s local telephone business in the Southwestern United States.

Windstream is a partner with Dish Network, offering satellite service to its customers.

On May 29, 2007, the company announced that it would acquire CT Communications for $585 million. The acquisition would result in an addition of approximately 158,000 access lines and 29,000 broadband customers, nearly doubling the company's presence in North Carolina. The sale closed August 31, 2007.[6][7] The telephone operating company was renamed Windstream Concord Telephone.

On May 11, 2009, the company announced that it would acquire D&E Communications of Ephrata, Pennsylvania for approximately $330 million. The acquisition would result in an addition of approximately 165,000 access lines and 44,000 high speed internet customers. The acquisition would greatly expand the company's presence in Pennsylvania, including significant expansion of its CLEC presence in seven markets in the state, including State College, PA, home of Pennsylvania State University.[8][9] The transaction closed November 10, 2009.[10]

On November 24, 2009, the company announced that it would acquire Iowa Telecom for $1.1 billion. The acquisition would result in an addition 256,000 access lines, about 95,000 high-speed Internet customers and about 26,000 digital TV customers, adding rural Iowa and Minnesota to the company.[11]

On February 8, 2010, the company acquired Nuvox, a company formed from a merger of NuVox Communications, FDN Communications,[12] Gabriel Communications and Trivergent Communications.[13]

On August 17, 2010, the company announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Q-Comm Corporation in a transaction valued at approximately $782 million. This includes Q-Comm’s wholly owned subsidiaries Kentucky Data Link, Inc. (KDL),[14] a fiber services provider in 22 states, and Norlight, Inc.,[15] a CLEC primarily serving the Midwest. Both KDL and Norlight are based in Evansville, IN. Q-Comm subsidiaries Cinergy MetroNet[16] and nGenX[17] will be spun off as independent companies prior to the close of the deal.[18]

In November 2010, the company announced that it would acquire Hosted Solutions for $310 million. Hosted Solutions is a North Carolina-based managed hosting, cloud and colocation provider with a footprint of five datacenters in Cary, Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina as well as Boston, Massachusetts.[19]

On December 11, 2014 Windstream's CEO from 2006 to 2014, Jeffery R. Gardner, was replaced by Tony Thomas. Jeffery R. Gardner is staying on as an adviser and member of the Board of Directors through Feb 1, 2015.[21]